Collapsible display cases



March 25, 1969 T. E. SALET COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY CASES Sheet of 2 Filed June 12, 1967 I we (7 L K THOMAS E. SALET ATTORNEY March 25, 1969 T. E. SALET 3,434,769

COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY CASES Filed June 12, 196'? v /7 m /a INVENTOR THOMAS E 5J4LE7' /71 I ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 312-258 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible display case in which the opposite vertical sides are foldable about hinges toward one another and over the bottom or base of the display case; the rear or back wall of the collapsible case is hinged so that its hinge is above the thickness of the folded sides on the base so that the back wall is folded directly over the folded sides; on the top of the back wall is hinged the top panel which can be folded back upon the back wall so that the unit is compact and solid; the display 'case is unfolded by raising the back wall and the sides to vertical position and turning the top into engagement with the upper edges of the sides into engagement with suitable locating dowels; suitable grooves are provided on the vertical front edges of the sides for receiving transparent front panel when desired.

Brief description of the invention The primary object of the invention is to provide a display case which can be collapsed into a flat, compact unit for storage and which can be quickly unfolded and securely held to form a firm display case, without the need for any screws, bolts or securing means to be applied for holding the display case in extended position;

Description of figures FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display case collapsed into a compact unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the raising of the top panel of the display case.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the raising of the back wall of the display case from the sides.

.FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the sides and back wall in perpendicular position and the top panel about to be placed upon the side panels.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the top panel lowered upon the perpendicular sides.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the display case.

FIG. 7 is a fragmental cross-sectional view showing the engagement of the top panel with one of the locating dowels extended from the top of the adjacent side wall.

Detailed description The display case herein has a bottom panel 1 which consists of a frame 2 enclosing and holding a suitable panel 3 on which articles displayed can be supported.

In this illustration the base or bottom 1 is elongated and on the opposite shorter sides thereof is secured respectively by hinges 4 perpendicular sides 5. Each side is formed by a rectangular frame 6 holding the panel 7 which, in this illustration, is preferably perforated for suitable ventilation. The hinges 4 are so formed that the sides 5 are foldable toward one another and over the bottom panel 1.

3,434,769 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 From the top edges of each side frame 6 extend locating dowels 8 for the purposes hereinafter described. The front edges of the frame 6 are provided with vertical grooves 9 to accommodate a transparent panel 10, whenever the closing of the front of the display case is desired.

A back wall 11 is formed by a frame 12 which extends the full length of the bottom 1 so as to engage the adjacent edges of the vertical sides 5 when extended. A hinge 13 of the back wall 11 is secured on a spacing strip 14 along the adjacent edge of the bottom 1 so as to permit the folding of the back wall 11 over the folded sides 5 as shown in FIG. 1. The frame 12 of the back wall 11 holds a panel 20 which, in this illustration, is also perforated.

On the top edge of the frame 12 of the back wall 11 is secured by two-way hinges 15 a top wall 16 the frame 17 of which holds another perforated panel 18. The hinges 15 hinge the top 16 so that it may be turned over the back wall 11 as shown in FIG. 1 or over the tops of the prependicular sides 5 as shown in FIG. 4. The respective sides of the frame 17 of the top 16 are provided with suitable holes 19 which fit over the 10- cating dowels 8 so that when engaged with dowels 8 all the walls of the display case are securely held in the extended position and are capable of supporting a display therein. The display case can be quickly collapsed by raising the top panel 16 then folding the sides 5 over the bottom 1, then folding the back wall 11 over the sides 7 and finally folding back the top 16 over the back wall 11. The sides 5 are of suitable height but at all times are of less height than one-half of the length of the bottom 1, in this illustration.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible display case,

(a) a bottom having two longitudinal sides and two ends,

(-b) a pair of perpendicular end walls hinged on the opposite ends of said bottom and being foldable over said bottom,

(c) a back wall hinged on one of the longitudinal sides of said back wall, said top wall being foldable back over said folded pependicular end walls,

(d) a top wall hinged on the longitudinal top edge of said back wall, said top wall being foldable back over and directly upon said back wall and being foldable forward and over the top edges of the perpendicular end walls to unfolded position,

(e) coacting elements on the tops of said perpendicular end walls and said top wall for holding said top wall in position on said perpendicular ends and holding end said walls in perpendicular position,

(f) the hinge of said back Wall being above the thickness of the folded ends above the bottom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,355 5/1881 Nicholas 312-262 578,445 3/1897 Cobleigh 312-262 696,243 3/ 1902 Johnston 3 l225 7 734,644 7/1903 Wilton 312-414 941,013 11/1909 Doble et al. 312-258 1,497,757 6/1924 Kendrick 312-114 1,572,429 2/1926 Grither 312-1 14 FOREIGN PATENTS 162,131 4/ 1921 Great Britain. 607,192 3/ 1926 France.

JAMES T. 'MCCA-LL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 3 12-114 

